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celestialfrayYeah, I'm *actually* updating. I didn't think it was possible anymore. I haven't abandoned my LJ or anything. I'd blame it on the always quiet summer, but I've noticed that I've averaged about 1 post for every 2 months this past year. Oops.
I'd meant to update about the LOTR Howard Shore Concert I went to in July, which was memorable enough on it's own, but became even more so after the concert ended when I ended up being harrassed by this creepy guy who wouldn't leave me alone. Fun. But I started repressing, and time passed, so it never happened. I'll probably post about it later.
The reason I'm updating now, is to announce the fact that I got my driver's license!. Okay, so yeah, I'm 19. Just got it. It didn't actually take me that long to work on getting the license, just one spring and two summers, including this one, but when you put a year between each, it kind of stacks up.
Let me preface this by saying: I don't like to drive. At all. It's like Math to me. I can do it, but I'd like to avoid it. Despite this my mom has been focused on the idea that a license is the most important thing in the world. Nearly everyday, I'd be forced to go out and drive around. I think my mom was under the impression that if I skipped even one day, everything I know about cars would be forgotten and I'd have to start all over.
See, I just have a bad history with the DoL, which has led me to taking the driving test 4 times, failing 3 times, and trying (and failing) to just take the driving test 2 times. This has given me the hint that someone out there just doesn't want me to drive. (the feeling is mutual) But I've shown them by actually passing the drive test. Take that, bitch. 4th time's the charm.
The annoying part is, I'm a fine driver. I'm cautious. I follow the speed limit (often to the annoyance of other drivers). I try not to hit pedestrians, etc... But put me in the car with the instructor and *bam* I become a nervous wreck (though thank the gods not literally).
The first time, I was 16, and I admit it was due to lack of skill, though not in the way it sounds. I went too wide backing around a corner so I was more on the left side of the road than the right. And driving on the wrong side of the road is a dangerous action and an automatic failure. (Though, really, the car was moving in the right direction... It just wasn't facing the right way.)
Last summer: The second time was a bit more normal. Too many little things (and the lady wasn't giving great instructions either) leaving me just shy of 80. The third time should have been the charm, but nope. I was told to turn at a T intersection (where you could only go straight or turn right) and the light was red. Remembering that I lost points last time for not turning right-on-red fast enough when I could last time, I slowed, looked and turned. I just didn't stop long enough. (I totally paused, though). Oops. There wasn't any danger involved (no road to the left or protected left turns for oncoming traffic) but it was a violation of law and another automatic failure. After that, I tried scheduling another drive test, but that ended before it had even begun.
This summer: Parents are militant. Another attempt at a test failed before I could take it and it wasn't even my fault. Out of all the random things that could go wrong, my dad realized his registration had expired. Many many months ago. There's a handy colored sticker on the license plate that brightly states what year it's in. I've had state patrol cars behind me. My dad was even involved in an accident a while ago. Yet no one noticed that it had expired until my dad did 5 minutes before my test. And it would have only taken 15 minutes to get a new one at a nearby Licensing place. (I know this because 15 minutes later, my dad had finished renewing it.) I tried canceling, but it was too late as my time had passed. I called to make a new one, from which I learned that the DoL hold a grudge. The lady sharply asked why I didn't call to cancel, and I couldn't really explain because they legally would have had to keep us in the parking lot for having the expired registration. Then she told me there were no appointments available in the next 2 weeks and said I had to call once they opened tomorrow morning to try for what would open up then. Upon which I found out that morning that there were a few she could have given me, but she didn't want to.
But despite all this. I am now the possessor of a driver's license. Finally. Now I don't have to drive anymore.
I'd meant to update about the LOTR Howard Shore Concert I went to in July, which was memorable enough on it's own, but became even more so after the concert ended when I ended up being harrassed by this creepy guy who wouldn't leave me alone. Fun. But I started repressing, and time passed, so it never happened. I'll probably post about it later.
The reason I'm updating now, is to announce the fact that I got my driver's license!. Okay, so yeah, I'm 19. Just got it. It didn't actually take me that long to work on getting the license, just one spring and two summers, including this one, but when you put a year between each, it kind of stacks up.
Let me preface this by saying: I don't like to drive. At all. It's like Math to me. I can do it, but I'd like to avoid it. Despite this my mom has been focused on the idea that a license is the most important thing in the world. Nearly everyday, I'd be forced to go out and drive around. I think my mom was under the impression that if I skipped even one day, everything I know about cars would be forgotten and I'd have to start all over.
See, I just have a bad history with the DoL, which has led me to taking the driving test 4 times, failing 3 times, and trying (and failing) to just take the driving test 2 times. This has given me the hint that someone out there just doesn't want me to drive. (the feeling is mutual) But I've shown them by actually passing the drive test. Take that, bitch. 4th time's the charm.
The annoying part is, I'm a fine driver. I'm cautious. I follow the speed limit (often to the annoyance of other drivers). I try not to hit pedestrians, etc... But put me in the car with the instructor and *bam* I become a nervous wreck (though thank the gods not literally).
The first time, I was 16, and I admit it was due to lack of skill, though not in the way it sounds. I went too wide backing around a corner so I was more on the left side of the road than the right. And driving on the wrong side of the road is a dangerous action and an automatic failure. (Though, really, the car was moving in the right direction... It just wasn't facing the right way.)
Last summer: The second time was a bit more normal. Too many little things (and the lady wasn't giving great instructions either) leaving me just shy of 80. The third time should have been the charm, but nope. I was told to turn at a T intersection (where you could only go straight or turn right) and the light was red. Remembering that I lost points last time for not turning right-on-red fast enough when I could last time, I slowed, looked and turned. I just didn't stop long enough. (I totally paused, though). Oops. There wasn't any danger involved (no road to the left or protected left turns for oncoming traffic) but it was a violation of law and another automatic failure. After that, I tried scheduling another drive test, but that ended before it had even begun.
This summer: Parents are militant. Another attempt at a test failed before I could take it and it wasn't even my fault. Out of all the random things that could go wrong, my dad realized his registration had expired. Many many months ago. There's a handy colored sticker on the license plate that brightly states what year it's in. I've had state patrol cars behind me. My dad was even involved in an accident a while ago. Yet no one noticed that it had expired until my dad did 5 minutes before my test. And it would have only taken 15 minutes to get a new one at a nearby Licensing place. (I know this because 15 minutes later, my dad had finished renewing it.) I tried canceling, but it was too late as my time had passed. I called to make a new one, from which I learned that the DoL hold a grudge. The lady sharply asked why I didn't call to cancel, and I couldn't really explain because they legally would have had to keep us in the parking lot for having the expired registration. Then she told me there were no appointments available in the next 2 weeks and said I had to call once they opened tomorrow morning to try for what would open up then. Upon which I found out that morning that there were a few she could have given me, but she didn't want to.
But despite all this. I am now the possessor of a driver's license. Finally. Now I don't have to drive anymore.
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no subject
Date: 2004-09-06 07:52 pm (UTC)That's basically my whole take on the whole license thing. Congratulations by the way! Yay for us who finally got it.
Thanks.
Date: 2004-09-07 07:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-17 05:00 pm (UTC)